Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon’s misdemeanor criminal charge for menacing has been refiled, according Fox19 in Cincinnati.
Mixon was previously charged with menacing following an incident on January 21 in downtown Cincinnati in which Mixon allegedly pointed a gun at a woman in a road rage incident. The Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs on January 22. Mixon ran for 105 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Mixon is accused of pointing a gun at the victim and telling her “You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you. The police can’t get me.” An arrest warrant was originally filed on Feb 2, but it was dismissed the next day. Though the charge was dropped, the possibility it could be refiled was left open as it was only dropped due to a procedural error. The officer who originally filed the charge was disciplined internally by the Cincinnati Police Department and the case was reassigned.
Mixon was thought to be a potential cap casualty for the Bengals this offseason, especially in the wake of the charge. However, the team lost backup Samaje Perine to the Denver Broncos in free agency and Mixon remains on the roster. It remains to be seen if the refiling of the charge impacts his roster status. There’s always a possibility Mixon will face a suspension down the line due to a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, even if he if the charge does not lead to a conviction. Cincinnati will likely be in the market for a top running back in the upcoming NFL Draft whether or not Mixon is still on the roster.
The Bengals still have a busy offseason ahead of them, with star quarterback Joe Burrow eligible for an extension. The team could also opt to extend wide receiver Tee Higgins, whom the team previously said it wouldn’t look to trade this offseason despite rumors. With back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl appearance two seasons ago, Cincinnati is going to be up against the cap in the coming seasons depending on Burrow’s extension. With Mixon’s cap number just over $12.7 million this season and the team able to save $5.5 million by releasing him pre-June 1, Mixon’s days in Cincinnati might be numbered.
